The Florida Highway Patrol has officially identified the man who was killed in an accident that took place on the Buckman Bridge. The man was from Tampa, Florida, though he had previously lived in Jacksonville. Officials say that he was 48 years old when he passed away.
Criminal charges have not been filed in the case as of right now. Investigators said that it could be weeks before they can decide if they are going to need to do so.
The accident happened when a car that was heading north ran into the pickup truck that the man was driving. The collision sent that pickup truck over the side of the bridge and into the water. Reports say that the man did manage to get out of the crashed truck somehow and swim for a short time before he was lost to view. His body was later recovered from the water.
The driver of that car has a long list of citations. Four of them were for exceeding the speed limit, and two others were for a lack of proof of insurance and for not being able to provide a driver’s license.
An initial crash — and drivers slowing down to look at it — could have led to the deadly accident. A semi-truck was heading south when it jackknifed and wrecked. Police think that drivers in the north-bound lanes may have been doing what is known as rubbernecking, even though their lanes were not blocked.
When truck accidents or car accidents take lives, even if criminal charges are not filed, it is critical that the families of those who are killed know if they have rights to take their own legal action.
Source: The Florida Times-Union, “FHP: Tampa man, 48, identified as victim in Wednesday’s deadly Buckman bridge accident” Jim Schoettler, Jul. 17, 2014
